v2026.04.02/emulators/gpsp.yml

emulator: gpSP
type: libretro
core_classification: community_fork
source: "https://github.com/libretro/gpsp"
upstream: "https://github.com/davidgfnet/gpsp"
profiled_date: "2026-03-23"
core_version: "Git"
display_name: "Nintendo - Game Boy Advance (gpSP)"
cores:
  - gpsp
systems:
  - nintendo-gba

notes: |
  gpSP is a Game Boy Advance emulator originally by Exophase, forked by
  notaz for GP2X/Pandora, now maintained by davidgfnet for libretro.
  Ships a built-in open-source BIOS (bios/open_gba_bios.bin) compiled
  from bios/source/ that covers most games.

  The core option gpsp_bios controls BIOS selection:
    auto     (default) - try official gba_bios.bin, fall back to built-in
    builtin  - always use the built-in open-source BIOS
    official - try gba_bios.bin, warn and fall back to built-in if missing

  BIOS loading path (libretro/libretro.c:1100-1131):
    1. Resolve system directory (RETRO_ENVIRONMENT_GET_SYSTEM_DIRECTORY)
    2. Append "/gba_bios.bin"
    3. load_bios() reads 0x4000 (16 KB) into bios_rom[]
    4. Sanity check: bios_rom[0] must be 0x18 (ARM branch opcode)
    5. On failure, memcpy open_gba_bios_rom[] as fallback

  The official BIOS improves compatibility for games that rely on
  precise SWI behavior or BIOS checksum verification.

  Upstream (notaz/Exophase) required the official BIOS with no fallback.
  The built-in open-source BIOS is a davidgfnet/libretro addition.

files:
  - name: gba_bios.bin
    system: nintendo-gba
    required: false
    hle_fallback: true
    size: 16384
    description: "Official GBA BIOS"
    note: "Built-in open-source BIOS used as fallback. Real BIOS needed for full SWI accuracy and boot animation."
    source_ref: "libretro/libretro.c:1111, gba_memory.c:2568-2579"

platform_details:
  gba:
    bios_size: 16384
    hle_bios: true
    source_ref: "libretro/libretro.c:1100-1131, bios/source/"
    notes: |
      The built-in BIOS (open_gba_bios_rom, 16 KB) is an open-source
      reimplementation compiled from bios/source/. It implements most
      SWI calls (SoftReset, RegisterRamReset, Halt, VBlankIntrWait,
      arithmetic, decompression, sound, multiboot).

      No hash or checksum verification is performed. The only check
      is bios_rom[0] == 0x18 (ARM branch at reset vector).

      The bios_type enum (main.h:56-61) defines three modes:
        auto_detect  - try official first, fall back to built-in
        builtin_bios - skip file load entirely, use open_gba_bios_rom
        official_bios - try file, warn on failure, still fall back